Huge Algae Problem Pics!!!

[timthom148]

I have a 45 gallon tank it has been cycled now for almost 6 months all my levels are zero except phosphates i havnt even tested for those i am using treated tap water. I have a few diffrent types of algae growing currently i have some nice coraline algee groth on the rocks and the glass i have some hair algae and some maidens hair growing in the tank and then i have this crazy purple fuzzy hair crap all over my tank its texture looks like cotton candy and it grows like CRAZY!! what is it and how do i get rid of it? I have a bubble anenome and some green polyps 2 maroon clowns about 15 crabs and 15 turbo snails, they havnt even dented the stuff. my tank looks like crap and i am not quite sure what to do.

 

[kevin34]

I would highly reccomend switching to RO water as quickly as possible. Also try cutting down your hours of light. You may also want to add more snails.

 

[digitydash]

you can got to a LFS and get phosphate sponge put it with your charcole in your filter or in a bag in your wet dry should take care of it if you have it I alway put it in my filter and wet dry even though I dont have any..Also city water has phosphates in it to I had a problem with one of them water place to fill your 5 gal jugs at it had high phosphates,so I broke down and got a ro system.

 

[groupergenius]

Absolutely RO water. Reverse Osmosis. You can get it hopefully at your local fish store or check around for one of those places where you can refill water jugs.
Firstly though, get a Phosphate test kit and check your tank water. Then check your treated tap water. Then check your new source.
Ideally you want 0 phosphates. I don't think the additives to "cure" tap water handle phosphates.

 

[digitydash]

Dang never seen it that bad befor..I would start by plucking it out..Definatly need some turbo snails.Also what I sayed on my first post.
Grouper sometimes water fill places are no better than tap water with phosphates..

 

[cam78]

why is it red?

 

[groupergenius]

Originally Posted by digitydash
Dang never seen it that bad befor..I would start by plucking it out..Definatly need some turbo snails.Also what I sayed on my first post.
Grouper sometimes water fill places are no better than tap water with phosphates..
I know. Thats why I said test it. As well as LFS water. The water fill place I use has 0 phosphates. It's a water softening store that has 5 filling boxes out front. It is advertised R/O water and it tested better than the LFS water I was getting. Plus it's $.25 a gallon. I have made the mistake in the past with my 90 gallon of using grocery store distilled or spring water.
I have 150W MH beaming into my 15 gallon tank for 1 month now 12 hours a day with no algae. Though I did finally notice purple coraline growing in small spots on the glass today.

 

[pondy]

I didnt look at the pictures because my computer wouldnt load them, but SOunds to me like you have some kind of cyano bacteria, I have an idea to seee if it is cyano, take one of your power heads and point it right at the red fuzzy algea, if it is cyano it should start to disapear because cyano grows in lo circulation places in our tanks, or in oxigen deprived spaces in our tanks, so see if that works if it doesnt then it has to be something else. Good luck mate. keep us informed. Dustin

 

[hammerhed7]

in the long run it may be cheaper to look into buying an RO unit, try aqua safe systems on the auction site. Or if you going to stick with a nano, you should be able to find a lfs that sells water

 

[blueram]

That's not cyano, it looks more like Red Turf Algae. You must get rid of it or it will continue to take over the tank. Turbo Snails are suppose to eat that type of algae. I battled Red Turf algae for a little while, I bought Turbo but they seemed to be pretty slow eating that stuff. Then I decided to use Chemiclean and the Red turf Algae went away and never came back. Part of your problem could be the tap water that you are using.
Here is a link with some really good info....good luck buddy.
]
Good luck

 

[timthom148]

Thanks for all your help i'm gonna take all the live rock out and scrub it as well as get some more turbo snails and i will get some chemi clena for backup (last resort) Thanks..

 

[who dey]

you will be fine in a few months

 

[who dey]

best lawnmower in the saltwater hardware store!

 

[mie]

We had a major outbreak in my sons 20 gal and we wrapped it in a sheet for one week and the alage will die gauranteed

 

[who dey]

Originally Posted by mie
We had a major outbreak in my sons 20 gal and we wrapped it in a sheet for one week and the alage will die gauranteed
will keep coming back unless the cause of the problem is addressed ie.. PO4 (phosphates)

 

[timthom148]

A little update, yesterday i took out all my live rock and i scrubbed all of the algae off of it, i got some mexican turbo snails and i put in about 20 gallons of Ro water, we will see what happens i plan on doing a water change with Ro every week for the next two weeks. And i got that phosphate removing sheet for my magnum filter at the LFS and im using that too. Hopefully no more turf algae! Thanks again.

 

[cam78]

Originally Posted by timthom148
A little update, yesterday i took out all my live rock and i scrubbed all of the algae off of it, i got some mexican turbo snails and i put in about 20 gallons of Ro water, we will see what happens i plan on doing a water change with Ro every week for the next two weeks. And i got that phosphate removing sheet for my magnum filter at the LFS and im using that too. Hopefully no more turf algae! Thanks again.

Don't you do weekly water changes anyway? Maybe thats the problem

 

[royal gang]

Wow that's some nice coralline on those rocks.

 

[timthom148]

Thanks,
No i dont do weekly water changes that seems a little much doesnt it?

 

[earlybird]

Originally Posted by timthom148
Thanks,
No i dont do weekly water changes that seems a little much doesnt it?
I change 5 gallons on my 29g every Thursday night. Zero algae, phosphates, and nitrates.